{ "Introduction": { "Background": { "text": "The islands were first populated by voyagers from either Samoa or Tonga in the first millennium A.D., and Tuvalu provided a steppingstone for various Polynesian communities that subsequently settled in Melanesia and Micronesia. Tuvalu eventually came under Samoan and Tongan spheres of influence although proximity to Micronesia allowed some Micronesian communities to flourish in Tuvalu, in particular on Nui Atoll. In the late 1700s and early 1800s, Tuvalu was visited by a series of American, British, Dutch, and Russian ships. The islands were named the Ellice Islands in 1819. The first Christian missionaries arrived in 1861, eventually converting most of the population, and around the same time, several hundred Tuvaluans were kidnapped by people purporting to be missionaries and sent to work on plantations in Peru and Hawaii.

The UK declared a protectorate over the Ellice Islands in 1892 and merged it with the Micronesian Gilbert Islands. The Gilbert and Ellice Islands Protectorate became a colony in 1916. During World War II, the US set up military bases on a few islands, and in 1943, after Japan captured many of the northern Gilbert Islands, the UK transferred administration of the colony southward to Funafuti. After the war, Tarawa in the Gilbert Islands was once again made the colony’s capital and the center of power was firmly in the Gilbert Islands, including the colony’s only secondary school. Amid growing tensions with the Gilbertese, Tuvaluans voted to secede from the colony in 1974, were granted self-rule in 1975, and gained independence in 1978 as Tuvalu. In 1979, the US relinquished its claims to Tuvaluan islands in a treaty of friendship.


The Tuvalu Trust Fund was established in 1987 to provide a longterm economic future for the country. In 2000, Tuvalu negotiated a contract leasing its Internet domain name \".tv\" for $50 million in royalties over a 12-year period. The contract was renewed in 2011 for a ten-year period. Tuvalu’s isolation means it sees few tourists; in 2020, Funafuti International Airport had four weekly flights - three to Suva, Fiji, and one to Tarawa. Tuvalu is highly vulnerable to the effects of climate change; in 2018, sea levels in Funafuti were rising twice as fast as global averages.

" } }, "Geography": { "Location": { "text": "Oceania, island group consisting of nine coral atolls in the South Pacific Ocean, about half way from Hawaii to Australia" }, "Geographic coordinates": { "text": "8 00 S, 178 00 E" }, "Map references": { "text": "Oceania" }, "Area": { "total": { "text": "26 sq km" }, "land": { "text": "26 sq km" }, "water": { "text": "0 sq km" } }, "Area - comparative": { "text": "0.1 times the size of Washington, DC" }, "Land boundaries": { "total": { "text": "0 km" } }, "Coastline": { "text": "24 km" }, "Maritime claims": { "territorial sea": { "text": "12 nm" }, "contiguous zone": { "text": "24 nm" }, "exclusive economic zone": { "text": "200 nm" } }, "Climate": { "text": "tropical; moderated by easterly trade winds (March to November); westerly gales and heavy rain (November to March)" }, "Terrain": { "text": "low-lying and narrow coral atolls" }, "Elevation": { "highest point": { "text": "unnamed location 5 m" }, "lowest point": { "text": "Pacific Ocean 0 m" }, "mean elevation": { "text": "2 m" } }, "Natural resources": { "text": "fish, coconut (copra)" }, "Land use": { "agricultural land": { "text": "60% (2018 est.)" }, "agricultural land: arable land": { "text": "arable land: 0% (2018 est.)" }, "agricultural land: permanent crops": { "text": "permanent crops: 60% (2018 est.)" }, "agricultural land: permanent pasture": { "text": "permanent pasture: 0% (2018 est.)" }, "forest": { "text": "33.3% (2018 est.)" }, "other": { "text": "6.7% (2018 est.)" } }, "Irrigated land": { "text": "0 sq km (2022)" }, "Population distribution": { "text": "over half of the population resides on the atoll of Funafuti" }, "Natural hazards": { "text": "severe tropical storms are usually rare, but in 1997 there were three cyclones; low levels of islands make them sensitive to changes in sea level" }, "Geography - note": { "text": "one of the smallest and most remote countries on Earth; six of the nine coral atolls - Nanumea, Nui, Vaitupu, Nukufetau, Funafuti, and Nukulaelae - have lagoons open to the ocean; Nanumaya and Niutao have landlocked lagoons; Niulakita does not have a lagoon" } }, "People and Society": { "Population": { "text": "11,639 (2023 est.)" }, "Nationality": { "noun": { "text": "Tuvaluan(s)" }, "adjective": { "text": "Tuvaluan" } }, "Ethnic groups": { "text": "Tuvaluan 97%, Tuvaluan/I-Kiribati 1.6%, Tuvaluan/other 0.8%, other 0.6% (2017 est.)" }, "Languages": { "text": "Tuvaluan (official), English (official), Samoan, Kiribati (on the island of Nui)" }, "Religions": { "text": "Protestant 92.7% (Congregational Christian Church of Tuvalu 85.9%, Brethren 2.8%, Seventh Day Adventist 2.5%, Assemblies of God 1.5%), Baha'i 1.5%, Jehovah's Witness 1.5%, other 3.9%, none or refused 0.4% (2017 est.)" }, "Age structure": { "0-14 years": { "text": "29.27% (male 1,745/female 1,662)" }, "15-64 years": { "text": "63.3% (male 3,703/female 3,664)" }, "65 years and over": { "text": "7.43% (2023 est.) (male 318/female 547)" } }, "Dependency ratios": { "total dependency ratio": { "text": "60.9" }, "youth dependency ratio": { "text": "50.9" }, "elderly dependency ratio": { "text": "10" }, "potential support ratio": { "text": "10 (2021)" } }, "Median age": { "total": { "text": "26.6 years" }, "male": { "text": "25.6 years" }, "female": { "text": "27.6 years (2020 est.)" } }, "Population growth rate": { "text": "0.81% (2023 est.)" }, "Birth rate": { "text": "22.34 births/1,000 population (2023 est.)" }, "Death rate": { "text": "7.9 deaths/1,000 population (2023 est.)" }, "Net migration rate": { "text": "-6.36 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2023 est.)" }, "Population distribution": { "text": "over half of the population resides on the atoll of Funafuti" }, "Urbanization": { "urban population": { "text": "66.2% of total population (2023)" }, "rate of urbanization": { "text": "2.08% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)" } }, "Major urban areas - population": { "text": "7,000 FUNAFUTI (capital) (2018)" }, "Sex ratio": { "at birth": { "text": "1.05 male(s)/female" }, "0-14 years": { "text": "1.05 male(s)/female" }, "15-64 years": { "text": "1.01 male(s)/female" }, "65 years and over": { "text": "0.58 male(s)/female" }, "total population": { "text": "0.98 male(s)/female (2023 est.)" } }, "Infant mortality rate": { "total": { "text": "28.32 deaths/1,000 live births" }, "male": { "text": "31.92 deaths/1,000 live births" }, "female": { "text": "24.54 deaths/1,000 live births (2023 est.)" } }, "Life expectancy at birth": { "total population": { "text": "68.69 years" }, "male": { "text": "66.25 years" }, "female": { "text": "71.25 years (2023 est.)" } }, "Total fertility rate": { "text": "2.81 children born/woman (2023 est.)" }, "Gross reproduction rate": { "text": "1.37 (2023 est.)" }, "Contraceptive prevalence rate": { "text": "23.7% (2019/20)" }, "Drinking water source": { "improved: urban": { "text": "urban: 100% of population" }, "improved: rural": { "text": "rural: 100% of population" }, "improved: total": { "text": "total: 100% of population" }, "unimproved: urban": { "text": "urban: 0% of population" }, "unimproved: rural": { "text": "rural: 0% of population" }, "unimproved: total": { "text": "total: 0% of population (2020 est.)" } }, "Current health expenditure": { "text": "21.5% of GDP (2020)" }, "Physicians density": { "text": "1.19 physicians/1,000 population (2020)" }, "Sanitation facility access": { "improved: urban": { "text": "urban: 91.8% of population" }, "improved: rural": { "text": "rural: 91% of population" }, "improved: total": { "text": "total: 91.5% of population" }, "unimproved: urban": { "text": "urban: 9.2% of population" }, "unimproved: rural": { "text": "rural: 9% of population" }, "unimproved: total": { "text": "total: 8.5% of population (2017 est.)" } }, "Obesity - adult prevalence rate": { "text": "51.6% (2016)" }, "Alcohol consumption per capita": { "total": { "text": "0.93 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)" }, "beer": { "text": "0.01 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)" }, "wine": { "text": "0.69 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)" }, "spirits": { "text": "0.22 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)" }, "other alcohols": { "text": "0 liters of pure alcohol (2019 est.)" } }, "Tobacco use": { "total": { "text": "35.6% (2020 est.)" }, "male": { "text": "49.8% (2020 est.)" }, "female": { "text": "21.3% (2020 est.)" } }, "Children under the age of 5 years underweight": { "text": "NA" }, "Currently married women (ages 15-49)": { "text": "66.1% (2023 est.)" }, "Education expenditures": { "text": "NA" }, "Literacy": { "total population": { "text": "NA" }, "male": { "text": "NA" }, "female": { "text": "NA" } }, "Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24)": { "total": { "text": "20.6%" }, "male": { "text": "9.8%" }, "female": { "text": "45.9% (2016)" } } }, "Environment": { "Environment - current issues": { "text": "water needs met by catchment systems; the use of sand as a building material has led to beachhead erosion; deforestation; damage to coral reefs from increasing ocean temperatures and acidification; rising sea levels threaten water table; in 2000, the government appealed to Australia and New Zealand to take in Tuvaluans if rising sea levels should make evacuation necessary" }, "Environment - international agreements": { "party to": { "text": "Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Climate Change-Paris Agreement, Desertification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Whaling" }, "signed, but not ratified": { "text": "Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban" } }, "Climate": { "text": "tropical; moderated by easterly trade winds (March to November); westerly gales and heavy rain (November to March)" }, "Land use": { "agricultural land": { "text": "60% (2018 est.)" }, "agricultural land: arable land": { "text": "arable land: 0% (2018 est.)" }, "agricultural land: permanent crops": { "text": "permanent crops: 60% (2018 est.)" }, "agricultural land: permanent pasture": { "text": "permanent pasture: 0% (2018 est.)" }, "forest": { "text": "33.3% (2018 est.)" }, "other": { "text": "6.7% (2018 est.)" } }, "Urbanization": { "urban population": { "text": "66.2% of total population (2023)" }, "rate of urbanization": { "text": "2.08% annual rate of change (2020-25 est.)" } }, "Revenue from forest resources": { "text": "0% of GDP (2018 est.)" }, "Air pollutants": { "particulate matter emissions": { "text": "11.42 micrograms per cubic meter (2016 est.)" }, "carbon dioxide emissions": { "text": "0.01 megatons (2016 est.)" }, "methane emissions": { "text": "0.01 megatons (2020 est.)" } }, "Waste and recycling": { "municipal solid waste generated annually": { "text": "3,989 tons (2011 est.)" }, "municipal solid waste recycled annually": { "text": "598 tons (2013 est.)" }, "percent of municipal solid waste recycled": { "text": "15% (2013 est.)" } }, "Total renewable water resources": { "text": "0 cubic meters (2017 est.)" } }, "Government": { "Country name": { "conventional long form": { "text": "none" }, "conventional short form": { "text": "Tuvalu" }, "local long form": { "text": "none" }, "local short form": { "text": "Tuvalu" }, "former": { "text": "Ellice Islands" }, "etymology": { "text": "\"tuvalu\" means \"group of eight\" or \"eight standing together\" referring to the country's eight traditionally inhabited islands" } }, "Government type": { "text": "parliamentary democracy under a constitutional monarchy; a Commonwealth realm" }, "Capital": { "name": { "text": "Funafuti; note - the capital is an atoll of some 29 islets; administrative offices are in Vaiaku Village on Fongafale Islet" }, "geographic coordinates": { "text": "8 31 S, 179 13 E" }, "time difference": { "text": "UTC+12 (17 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)" }, "etymology": { "text": "the atoll is named after a founding ancestor chief, Funa, from the island of Samoa" } }, "Administrative divisions": { "text": "7 island councils and 1 town council*; Funafuti*, Nanumaga, Nanumea, Niutao, Nui, Nukufetau, Nukulaelae, Vaitupu" }, "Independence": { "text": "1 October 1978 (from the UK)" }, "National holiday": { "text": "Independence Day, 1 October (1978)" }, "Constitution": { "history": { "text": "previous 1978 (at independence); latest effective 1 October 1986" }, "amendments": { "text": "proposed by the House of Assembly; passage requires at least two-thirds majority vote by the Assembly membership in the final reading; amended 2007, 2010, 2013; note - in 2016, the United Nations Development Program and the Tuvaluan Government initiated a review of the country's constitution, which was ongoing as of early 2021" } }, "Legal system": { "text": "mixed legal system of English common law and local customary law" }, "International law organization participation": { "text": "has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt" }, "Citizenship": { "citizenship by birth": { "text": "yes" }, "citizenship by descent only": { "text": "yes; for a child born abroad, at least one parent must be a citizen of Tuvalu" }, "dual citizenship recognized": { "text": "yes" }, "residency requirement for naturalization": { "text": "na" } }, "Suffrage": { "text": "18 years of age; universal" }, "Executive branch": { "chief of state": { "text": "King CHARLES III (since 8 September 2022); represented by Governor General Tofiga Vaevalu FALANI (since 29 August 2021)" }, "head of government": { "text": "Prime Minister Kausea NATANO (since 19 September 2019)" }, "cabinet": { "text": "Cabinet appointed by the governor general on recommendation of the prime minister" }, "elections/appointments": { "text": "the monarchy is hereditary; governor general appointed by the monarch on recommendation of the prime minister; prime minister and deputy prime minister elected by and from members of House of Assembly following parliamentary elections" }, "election results": { "text": "Kausea NATANO elected prime minister by House of Assembly; House of Assembly vote count on 19 September 2019 - 10 to 6" } }, "Legislative branch": { "description": { "text": "unicameral House of Assembly or Fale I Fono (16 seats; members directly elected in single- and multi-seat constituencies by simple majority vote to serve 4-year terms)" }, "elections": { "text": "last held on 9 September 2019 (next to be held on September 2023)" }, "election results": { "text": "percent of vote - NA; seats - independent 16 (9 members reelected)" } }, "Judicial branch": { "highest court(s)": { "text": "Court of Appeal (consists of the chief justice and not less than 3 appeals judges); High Court (consists of the chief justice); appeals beyond the Court of Appeal are heard by the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council (in London)" }, "judge selection and term of office": { "text": "Court of Appeal judges appointed by the governor general on the advice of the Cabinet; judge tenure based on terms of appointment; High Court chief justice appointed by the governor general on the advice of the Cabinet; chief justice serves for life; other judges appointed by the governor general on the advice of the Cabinet after consultation with chief justice; judge tenure set by terms of appointment" }, "subordinate courts": { "text": "magistrates' courts; island courts; land courts" } }, "Political parties and leaders": { "text": "there are no political parties, but members of parliament usually align themselves in informal groupings" }, "International organization participation": { "text": "ACP, ADB, AOSIS, C, FAO, IBRD, IDA, IFAD, IFRCS (observer), ILO, IMF, IMO, IOC, ITU, OPCW, PIF, Sparteca, SPC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO" }, "Diplomatic representation in the US": { "chief of mission": { "text": "Ambassador (vacant)
note - also Permanent Representative to UN; Tapugao FALEFOU presented his credentials to the Secretary General of the UN on 30 December 2022, but has not presented his credentials for Ambassador to the US as of 1 June 2023" }, "chancery": { "text": "685 Third Avenue, Suite 1104, New York, NY 10017" }, "telephone": { "text": "[1] (212) 490-0534" }, "FAX": { "text": "[1] (212) 808-4975" }, "email address and website": { "text": "
tuvalumission.un@gmail.com

https://www.un.int/tuvalu/about" }, "note": "note - the Tuvalu Permanent Mission to the UN serves as the Embassy" }, "Diplomatic representation from the US": { "embassy": { "text": "the US does not have an embassy in Tuvalu; the US Ambassador to Fiji is accredited to Tuvalu" } }, "Flag description": { "text": "light blue with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side quadrant; the outer half of the flag represents a map of the country with nine yellow, five-pointed stars on a blue field symbolizing the nine atolls in the ocean" }, "National symbol(s)": { "text": "maneapa (native meeting house); national colors: light blue, yellow" }, "National anthem": { "name": { "text": "\"Tuvalu mo te Atua\" (Tuvalu for the Almighty)" }, "lyrics/music": { "text": "Afaese MANOA" }, "note": "note: adopted 1978; the anthem's name is also the nation's motto" } }, "Economy": { "Economic overview": { "text": "upper middle-income but very fragile Pacific island economy; currency pegged to Australian dollar; public revenues from international aid, fishing licenses, and national trust fund; pursuing Te Kakeega sustainable development; significant remittances" }, "Real GDP (purchasing power parity)": { "Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2021": { "text": "$55.169 million (2021 est.)" }, "Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2020": { "text": "$53.57 million (2020 est.)" }, "Real GDP (purchasing power parity) 2019": { "text": "$52.77 million (2019 est.)" }, "note": "note: data are in 2017 dollars" }, "Real GDP growth rate": { "Real GDP growth rate 2021": { "text": "2.99% (2021 est.)" }, "Real GDP growth rate 2020": { "text": "1.52% (2020 est.)" }, "Real GDP growth rate 2019": { "text": "13.79% (2019 est.)" } }, "Real GDP per capita": { "Real GDP per capita 2021": { "text": "$4,900 (2021 est.)" }, "Real GDP per capita 2020": { "text": "$4,800 (2020 est.)" }, "Real GDP per capita 2019": { "text": "$4,800 (2019 est.)" }, "note": "note: data are in 2017 dollars" }, "GDP (official exchange rate)": { "text": "$40 million (2017 est.)" }, "Inflation rate (consumer prices)": { "Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2017": { "text": "4.1% (2017 est.)" }, "Inflation rate (consumer prices) 2016": { "text": "3.5% (2016 est.)" } }, "GDP - composition, by sector of origin": { "agriculture": { "text": "24.5% (2012 est.)" }, "industry": { "text": "5.6% (2012 est.)" }, "services": { "text": "70% (2012 est.)" } }, "GDP - composition, by end use": { "government consumption": { "text": "87% (2016 est.)" }, "investment in fixed capital": { "text": "24.3% (2016 est.)" }, "exports of goods and services": { "text": "43.7% (2016 est.)" }, "imports of goods and services": { "text": "-66.1% (2016 est.)" } }, "Agricultural products": { "text": "coconuts, vegetables, tropical fruit, bananas, roots/tubers nes, pork, poultry, eggs, pig fat, pig offals" }, "Industries": { "text": "fishing" }, "Industrial production growth rate": { "text": "-26.1% (2012 est.)" }, "Labor force": { "text": "3,615 (2004 est.)" }, "Labor force - by occupation": { "text": "

note: most people make a living through exploitation of the sea, reefs, and atolls - and through overseas remittances (mostly from workers in the phosphate industry and sailors)

" }, "Unemployment rate": { "text": "

NA

" }, "Youth unemployment rate (ages 15-24)": { "total": { "text": "20.6%" }, "male": { "text": "9.8%" }, "female": { "text": "45.9% (2016)" } }, "Population below poverty line": { "text": "26.3% (2010 est.)" }, "Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income": { "Gini Index coefficient - distribution of family income 2010": { "text": "39.1 (2010 est.)" } }, "Household income or consumption by percentage share": { "lowest 10%": { "text": "NA" }, "highest 10%": { "text": "NA" } }, "Budget": { "revenues": { "text": "$87 million (2019 est.)" }, "expenditures": { "text": "$88 million (2019 est.)" }, "note": "note: revenue data include Official Development Assistance from Australia" }, "Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)": { "text": "25.6% (of GDP) (2013 est.)" }, "Public debt": { "Public debt 2017": { "text": "37% of GDP (2017 est.)" }, "Public debt 2016": { "text": "47.2% of GDP (2016 est.)" } }, "Taxes and other revenues": { "text": "106.7% (of GDP) (2013 est.)", "note": "note: revenue data include Official Development Assistance from Australia" }, "Fiscal year": { "text": "calendar year" }, "Current account balance": { "Current account balance 2021": { "text": "$20.82 million (2021 est.)" }, "Current account balance 2020": { "text": "$9.015 million (2020 est.)" }, "Current account balance 2019": { "text": "-$6.051 million (2019 est.)" } }, "Exports": { "Exports 2021": { "text": "$2.699 million (2021 est.) note: data are in current year dollars" }, "Exports 2020": { "text": "$3.087 million (2020 est.) note: data are in current year dollars" }, "Exports 2019": { "text": "$10.266 million (2019 est.)" } }, "Exports - partners": { "text": "Thailand 50%, Indonesia 40% (2019)" }, "Exports - commodities": { "text": "fish, ships, coins, metal-clad products, electrical power accessories (2019)" }, "Imports": { "Imports 2021": { "text": "$51.187 million (2021 est.) note: data are in current year dollars" }, "Imports 2020": { "text": "$50.792 million (2020 est.) note: data are in current year dollars" }, "Imports 2019": { "text": "$65.24 million (2019 est.)" } }, "Imports - partners": { "text": "China 32%, Japan 29%, Fiji 23%, New Zealand 6% (2019)" }, "Imports - commodities": { "text": "refined petroleum, fishing ships, tug boats, other ships, iron structures (2019)" }, "Debt - external": { "text": "

NA

" }, "Exchange rates": { "Currency": { "text": "Tuvaluan dollars or Australian dollars (AUD) per US dollar -" }, "Exchange rates 2017": { "text": "1.311 (2017 est.)" }, "Exchange rates 2016": { "text": "1.3442 (2016 est.)" } } }, "Energy": { "Electricity access": { "electrification - total population": { "text": "99.6% (2021)" }, "electrification - urban areas": { "text": "100% (2021)" }, "electrification - rural areas": { "text": "99% (2021)" } }, "Coal": { "production": { "text": "0 metric tons (2020 est.)" }, "consumption": { "text": "0 metric tons (2020 est.)" }, "exports": { "text": "0 metric tons (2020 est.)" }, "imports": { "text": "0 metric tons (2020 est.)" } }, "Refined petroleum products - production": { "text": "0 bbl/day (2014 est.)" }, "Refined petroleum products - exports": { "text": "0 bbl/day" }, "Natural gas": { "production": { "text": "0 cubic meters (2021 est.)" }, "consumption": { "text": "0 cubic meters (2021 est.)" }, "exports": { "text": "0 cubic meters (2021 est.)" }, "imports": { "text": "0 cubic meters (2021 est.)" }, "proven reserves": { "text": "0 cubic meters (2021 est.)" } }, "Carbon dioxide emissions": { "total emissions": { "text": "0 metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)" }, "from coal and metallurgical coke": { "text": "0 metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)" }, "from consumed natural gas": { "text": "0 metric tonnes of CO2 (2019 est.)" } }, "Energy consumption per capita": { "Total energy consumption per capita 2019": { "text": "0 Btu/person (2019 est.)" } } }, "Communications": { "Telephones - fixed lines": { "total subscriptions": { "text": "2,000 (2021 est.)" }, "subscriptions per 100 inhabitants": { "text": "18 (2021 est.)" } }, "Telephones - mobile cellular": { "total subscriptions": { "text": "9,000 (2021 est.)" }, "subscriptions per 100 inhabitants": { "text": "80 (2021 est.)" } }, "Telecommunication systems": { "general assessment": { "text": "provides fixed-line telephone communications to subscribers on each of the islands of Tuvalu; each island relies on the use of a satellite dish for inter-island telephone communication, internet access, and mobile phone services (2023)" }, "domestic": { "text": "fixed-line teledensity is 18 per 100 and mobile-cellular is 80 per 100 (2021)" }, "international": { "text": "country code - 688; international calls can be made by satellite" } }, "Broadcast media": { "text": "no TV stations; many households use satellite dishes to watch foreign TV stations; 1 government-owned radio station, Radio Tuvalu, includes relays of programming from international broadcasters (2019)" }, "Internet country code": { "text": ".tv" }, "Internet users": { "total": { "text": "7,920 (2021 est.)" }, "percent of population": { "text": "49% (2021 est.)" } }, "Broadband - fixed subscriptions": { "total": { "text": "450 (2017 est.)" }, "subscriptions per 100 inhabitants": { "text": "4 (2017 est.)" } } }, "Transportation": { "Civil aircraft registration country code prefix": { "text": "T2" }, "Airports": { "text": "1 (2021)" }, "Airports - with unpaved runways": { "text": "1", "note": "note: unpaved runways have a surface composition such as grass or packed earth and are most suited to the operation of light aircraft; unpaved runways are usually short, often less than 1,000 m (3,280 ft.) in length; airports with unpaved runways often lack facilities for refueling, maintenance, or air traffic control" }, "Roadways": { "total": { "text": "8 km (2011)" }, "paved": { "text": "8 km (2011)" } }, "Merchant marine": { "total": { "text": "260" }, "by type": { "text": "bulk carrier 23, container ship 3, general cargo 39, oil tanker 24, other 171 (2022)" } }, "Ports and terminals": { "major seaport(s)": { "text": "Funafuti" } } }, "Military and Security": { "Military and security forces": { "text": "no regular military forces; Tuvalu Police Force (Ministry of Justice, Communications, and Foreign Affairs) (2023)" }, "Military - note": { "text": "Australia provides support to the Tuvalu Police Force, including donations of patrol boats

Tuvalu has a \"shiprider\" agreement with the US, which allows local maritime law enforcement officers to embark on US Coast Guard (USCG) and US Navy (USN) vessels, including to board and search vessels suspected of violating laws or regulations within Tuvalu's designated exclusive economic zone (EEZ) or on the high seas; \"shiprider\" agreements also enable USCG personnel and USN vessels with embarked USCG law enforcement personnel to work with host nations to protect critical regional resources (2023)" } }, "Transnational Issues": { "Disputes - international": { "text": "

none identified

" } } }